In this episode of Unscripted: The Pivot Season, I sit down with Michelle Kvello - founder of CFO advisory firm Lantern Partners - to talk about what happens when you stop waiting for permission and choose to back yourself instead.

Michelle’s pivot is a powerful example of courage and clarity. After a successful corporate career as a CFO, she stepped away from the safety of a traditional path and into entrepreneurship, launching Lantern Partners to support founders of start-ups and scale-ups. Her mission? To demystify finance and empower non-finance leaders to make bold, informed decisions with confidence.

This conversation goes far beyond numbers. We speak candidly about what it really takes to leave behind certainty in favour of alignment, how Michelle built a flexible, female-led business, and why she’s passionate about ensuring others don’t stay stuck just because the information feels out of reach.

We explore the value of backing yourself when others don’t see the full picture yet, how finance can be used as a decision-making superpower (not a blocker), and what authentic leadership looks like in fast-paced, high-growth environments.

Michelle’s story is proof that the bravest pivot doesn’t always come with a dramatic exit—it often begins with a quiet decision to believe in your own capability.

Key themes explored include:

• The courage to pivot from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship
• Building a female-led business rooted in flexibility and impact
• Demystifying finance for founders and non-financial leaders
• Creating clarity in complex decision-making environments
• Authentic leadership, visibility, and self-trust